The children at the Center have varying learning and physical disabilities, including down syndrom, autistic, deaf, handicapped and mentally retarded children. We serve both boys and girls from ages 5 years up to 16 years old.

Nazifa believes that education and encouragement are the right of every child, disabled or not. Research has proven that community based programs are the most successful means of providing rehabilitation and support services to the Afghan population (2005, UN Comprehensive Disabled Afghan Program). Nazifa set out to create a grassroots organization to provide basic education and a means of earning income to the special needs children of Afghanistan. However, she has achieved so much more. In the words of the students, the Sarahim Center of Special Education has given them self-confidence, a sense of worth and the ability to contribute to the future of their family and country. Because of what they are learning at the school, the children feel empowered to become masters of their own destiny. They feel like they are contributing to the betterment of their community instead of being a burden.

"Children feel empowered."